Tb testing on hire

World Canada

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I just got hired at a new place and it's been a few years since my last tb test, which was during my final placement. My new employer had a standard page for listing immunisations etc. When I brought it to my family doctor she told me that I would require a new 2 step tb test. She also told me that my employer would be considered as a "third party request" and she cannot use her government supply of tuberculin... She would need me to buy it from a pharmacy and then she could administer it, and that it was expensive.

I'm just wondering, are there clinics for health care workers to get tb tests done at a cheaper cost or if my negative test from a few years ago is still valid? Has anyone had this experience with a new job and what did they do?

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Where in Canada are you located?

I started a new job three months ago and required a 2 step TB test, as well as a few booster vaccines. They did everything where I got hired (by the occupational and employee health nurse). No charge whatsoever. This is out east.

When I was in Alberta starting nursing school a few years ago, everything was done in a public health office (no charge).

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Specializes in NICU, PICU, PCVICU and peds oncology.

Yes, as raindrops said, occupational health should provide the test for you as part of your on-boarding. The 2-step test is a bit of a PITA because there has to be 8 weeks between them. If you had to wait for the second all-clear to start your job, you'd have basically wasted 2 months. Did you talk to anyone in human resources about this? They should know if OH&S will do it for you. And as far as the "third-party request" bit goes, there is most likely a clause in the union collective agreement that requires the employer to pay for it in the same way they're required to pay for doctor's notes for illness or injury. If they demand something, they have to pay for it.

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As long as you have a record of your initial 2 step TB skin test you should only need a 1 step. I got my 2 step over 10 years ago and have only needed a 1 step ever since. Also occupational health at your hospital is usually equipped to do TB skin tests, and if they are not they should probably be reimbursing you for any costs associated with completing their screening. Occ health once wanted a doctors note from me and mailed me a cheque for the $10 it cost lol

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The job I got hired for is community nursing and I asked yesterday during orientation. They don't do tb testing themselves like a hospital and apparently don't compensate us for doing the test.

I called my doctor and she insists that I need to make an appointment to pick up a prescription for tuberculin. Buy it and then make another appointment to see her for her to do the test. She's also insisting for a 2 step even though the lay time I did the test was for school which was only around a year and a half ago. In thinking I'd have to buy another dose for 2 step and of course, she would charge me to sign my paperwork.

Does anyone know of a clinic or anything where they wouldn't require me to get a prescription and buy the tuberculin separately? My friend's family doctor doesn't make her purchase it separately... I really don't understand why I would bed to do all that just because I need this test for work and not school

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Ask your local department of Public Health.

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what province are you in?

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